Latest news with #ZainabAlsalhi
The National
16-04-2025
- Science
- The National
Omani spaceport prepares fan zone for visitors to watch rocket launch
Oman's Etlaq Spaceport is getting ready to welcome the public next week, with a fan zone opening so visitors can watch a rocket test flight up close. The launch attempt on April 24 will feature the Horus-4 rocket, developed by London company Advanced Rocket Technologies (ART), and is one of five demonstration missions planned at the site this year as Oman positions itself in the commercial space industry. A two-day fan experience in the free-of-charge zone, called Etlaq FX, will feature a series of activities for different age groups, including a robotics competition. 'It is an interactive area within the spaceport, so we can give the public an opportunity to see the launch and engage them with educational activities,' said Zainab Alsalhi, business development manager for Etlaq, during a webinar this month. Launch sites in Florida and Kazakhstan have offered public viewing areas for years, drawing crowds from around the world to witness the thrill of a rocket lifting off. But this will be the first such experience in the Middle East, and it reflects the growing investment and interest from the public and private sectors in space. Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at the New York University Abu Dhabi, said watching launches can inspire people to pursue careers in science and tech. 'The Apollo programme in the US, with public access to space launches, demonstrated the profound impact of public engagement with space exploration, sparking curiosity and driving interest in Stem for decades,' he told The National. 'Oman's commitment to public access at its new spaceport is a strategic move that can cultivate a similar long-term enthusiasm in young people, ultimately benefiting the nation's future in science and technology.' Horus-4, a small experimental rocket, will perform a 'hop test' as part of the Unity-1 mission. It can produce 155 newtons of thrust to reach an altitude of 75 metres with a velocity of about 24 metres per second. It will lift off and land back at the site, helping the company to measure how the rocket performs through different phases, including the launch, in-flight manoeuvres, landing sequence and touchdown. 'The upcoming launch of Horus-4 represents a significant milestone for ART and the broader space community in the Middle East and Africa,' the company said in a statement. 'By leveraging the state-of-the-art facilities at Etlaq Spaceport, ART aims to demonstrate the viability of reusable rocket technology, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective space missions in the future.' The fan zone will feature five tents dedicated to reception, hospitality, a live broadcast of the launch, merchandise, and an outdoor viewing area. 'The reception test is going to be the entry point for the visitors,' said Ms Alsalhi. 'The safety team will give a briefing first. We have an outdoor viewing area, of course.' She said there will be chairs available, and shaded areas. Visitors can also bring their own small chairs and small tents but barbecues are not allowed. Specialists will be on site to explain the launch process and timeline. The two-day experience starts on April 22, with the soft opening of the fan zone from 12pm to 6pm. The Full Etlaq Fan Experience on April 23 will offer activities ranging from a drawing area, games and robotics competitions from 12pm to 6pm. Omani space officials are aiming for a 9am launch on April 24, with the fan zone opening from 7.30am to 2pm. Advance registration is mandatory and space fans are encouraged to join Etlaq's newsletter to receive updates on how to register. Ms Alsalhi said slots are limited and will be assigned on a 'first come, first served basis'. The spaceport is in Duqm, which is six hours, about 530km, from Muscat by car and 90 minutes by air. Only Oman's Salam Air operates flights from Muscat to Duqm. In Duqm, there will be dedicated buses to transport visitors from hotels in the city to the spaceport. The next launch is expected to take place in June or July, when the Kea 1 rocket, made by New Zealand company Stellar Kinetics, is due to take off. These are all test launches, allowing start-ups to assess their technology and for Oman to assess what is needed to begin commercial operations later in the decade.
The National
20-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Oman set to launch five rockets from new spaceport in 2025 with fan zone to open to public
Oman is planning to launch five rockets from its developing spaceport this year – starting in April – with a fan zone to be opened in the coming months to allow the public to witness the series of landmark lift-offs. The Etlaq spaceport, which has been in the works since 2023, is in southern Duqm and is set to have three launch complexes where vehicles of various sizes will blast off into the skies. The announcement of the fan zone, which is expected to be introduced this summer and will be free of charge, was made at the Etlaq conference in Muscat on Thursday. The timeline of the launches for this year was also unveiled. Zainab Alsalhi, business development manager for Etlaq, said that a registration portal for those interested in attending the launch will soon be made available on the company's website and promoted on their social media platforms. 'I'm happy to introduce one of the best experiences at the launch event – the fan zone. Most of you have been dreaming of watching the moment of launch and that's why we've created this opportunity,' she said. It is not yet clear how far the fan zone will be from the launch site, but binoculars will be provided for an enhanced view. There will also be a live launch feed so the public can join the countdown to lift-off. The ticket will be valid for the launch window in case lift-off is postponed because of weather or technical issues. The site has already hosted its first launch in December, when an experimental vehicle soared 140km above sea level, crossing the Karman line, recognised as the boundary of space, at speeds of 1,530m/s. This was called the Duqm-1 mission, and the upcoming ones will be the Unity-1 mission in late April, Duqm-2 is expected in late June, Duqm-3 in October, Ambition-3 in November, and Duqm-4 in December. The spaceport is giving an opportunity to start-up launch companies to test their high-altitude and suborbital rockets, including the Kuwait Space Rockets organisation, which will launch the Ambition-3 vehicle 15km above sea level. The multiple space launches and fan zone are part of Etlaq's Genesis Programme, which was launched on Thursday as a stepping stone for the start of the spaceport's commercial operations in 2027. 'We believe such a heritage is a fundamental prerequisite to have before commercial spaceport operations in 2027,' said Azzan Al Said, chairman of the National Aerospace Services Company (Nascom) – the company overseeing the Etlaq project. 'The programme is designed to break down the absolute essential elements of planning and conducting rocket launches. 'To achieve this, from this year up until 2027, the programme will host as many launches as reasonably and safely as possible, with multiple launch companies operating suborbital and experimental launch vehicles.' As the global space industry expands, more countries are developing spaceports to accommodate a growing demand for satellite launches, suborbital tourism and scientific missions. In the UK, several new spaceports are under development, including Spaceport Cornwall, which has already hosted its first launch attempt, and upcoming vertical launch sites in Scotland, such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Sutherland Spaceport. These facilities are positioning the UK as a key player in European small satellite launches. Oman's spaceport could similarly create new opportunities for neighbouring Arab nations looking to expand their presence in the space sector. Mr Al Said said that the spaceport is being developed to meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards to attract international launch companies. 'The launcher can be by any company, as long as they are a suborbital or experimental launch company from a non-US sanctioned country, and that makes it easier for us to trust who we're doing business with, and also they'll be operating on the same safety standards that we are promoting,' he said. While Oman will host traditional vertical launch pads, the UAE is looking to host horizontal ones. Radian Aerospace is developing a horizontal take-off and landing, single-stage, fully reusable spaceplane called Radian One. A prototype is being tested at a small airfield in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is looking to enter the space tourism market by hosting high-altitude balloon flights, with companies like Halo Space planning to offer near-space experiences from the kingdom.
